Metal covering for car or vehicle bodies and method of preparing the same.



A. IVIEYIR. METAL covEmNG FOR CAR oa vEHmLE Bonls AMD METHOD oF PREPARING THE SAME.

Patented Api. 3, 1917.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7. 1912.

LLL

aLnxANnnE MEYER, oF PARIS, FRANCE. e

METAL CQVERING lFOR CAB, 0R VEHICLE BODIES AND METHD 0F PJIREPARING THE SAME.

LQQLGL Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, fill-'7.

Application filed February 7, 1912. Serial No. 676,092.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDRE MEYER, engineer, citizen of the' French Republic, residing at 10 Rue Thimonnier, Paris, De-

partment of the Seine, France', have inventexist today in general passenger carriages.,

For this application it is necessary to make a judicious selection'of the kinds of sheet-metal.

-*Sheet-iron gives very good results, but it is not easily shaped.

#by bubble-like formations in Sheet-steel is distinctly suitable for` this purpose, provided that it is charged as highly as possible with manganese (0.300 to 0.350). 1

Sheet aluminium and sheet copper can also be employed.

It is desirable that the sheet metal, particularly sheet steel, etc., before being worked at the` factoiy for the purpose of conversion into panels or other articles for covering carriages, should be prepared in the following manner: carefully scoured, the part intended to form the back face covered with a thin layer of oxid-resisting vitrification material, subjected to the action of fire for two or three minutes at a temperature of about 900 C. inorder to discover the flaws that may be produced by the impurities which have 'remained in the sheet-metal, and to make the latter as ductile as possible. The heating of the'sheet as described will cause the location of flaws or imperfections in the sheet to vhe indicated the covering on-the back-face.

lThis firing operation will move from the unglazedsurface the scales which could not be got rid of by thev first scouring. The sheet-metal isy drilled on the back face where the wrinkles or flaws have appeared in order to reach the impurltles or the cavity, soas to form an 'aar-passage inox-der to obviate their formation In the likewise reoperations of 'decorative vitriication or cnameling that follow. The sheet-metal is then vigorously rolled .for the purpose of straining the fibers. L

After being worked into panels or covering articles of the desired shape, the sur-v face of the shectvmctal that is to be vitrifed or enameled is subjected to the action of a powerful stream of a hard abrasive lsubstance (any kind of industrial carbon), carborundum for example, in order t0 impart to it a roughness that will increase the adhesion of the vitrifying material or of the enamel.

The sheet metal worked and shaped for being placed and ready for-being enameled or vitrified is again exposed to the action of fire, but at a temperature of about 7 00 C., once more scoured and carefully washed.

The surface that isto be decorated`receives a'rst vitrifying layer termed oXid resisting, the formula of which is approximately as below having the vnearest coeflieient of expansion to the sheet steel knownasv Martins: l Borax 45 parts Quartz 25 Torrified Hint (Hint which has been heated in order to facilitate grinding thereof) 5l Feldspar 16 Carbonate of potassium 5 l Saltpeter 2.75l Oxid of cobalt 0.25 Bi-oxd of manganese 0.75 t Oxid ofiron 0.25

This first layer is melted to a temperature of about l1000o C.

The superposed layers of enamel which follow and are employed, in the decoration of the panels should always leave the circumferential edges free from enamel, that is to say should stop, becoming thinner, at a suitable distance from the edges. This. method of application insures important' advantages in regard to the strength of the decorative enamel applied to the first vitrication layer, termed oxid-resisting. This is, illustrated in Figure l' of the drawing hereinafter referred to.

The same is done evenI around -holesemployed for. fixing, notches, etc., which may be formed in the metal sheets previously worked. (the. superposed layers of enamel the passage of screws, bolts or other fastening devices by which it is to be secured in place. It Will be evident that plates of any desired form and size may be provided and the abutting edges of the plates, when attached to the body of a car or vehicle, or to theframe'of such body, covered by suitable strips, which may also be of metal enameled in accordance with themethod herein described.='No claim is made herein to any particular form of plate, means for connecting the plate to the frame or body of a car or vehicle, or means for concealing the edges of the attached plates, as it is obvious that there may be great variation in these particulars without departing from l the spirit `of the present invention. .The primary cause of the lack of resist ance in enamels applied generally to metals: iron, steel, cast-iron, copper, aluminium, etc., is that When enamels are applied to metals either as grounds or rst layers or as decoration, colored 0r non-colored materials arer employed which are of a nature to produce opacity and, highly' fusible, that is to say strongly charged With alkalis, very frequently in the proportions of l of silicic acid: (quartz silex, silicious sand)l to 1 to 1.5 of

- various alkalis such as hydrated borate of soda (borax), neutral carbonateof sodium i (soda), carbonate of potassium (potash) and nitrate of potash or nitrate of soda. The consequence of this enormous'quantity of alkalis is a lack of homogeneousness and of vpower of resisting chemical, physical and thermic agents. y It has been recognized that it is preferable to apply immediately over the first oxid re? sistant or anti-oxid vitriication layer, a formula for Whlch Was given above, a very slightly fusible opacity producing solution strongly charged with silicio acid in the proportion of:

Silicio acid (quartz) Y f 2 Silic'ate of alumina 1 Saline oxid of lead (P13304:

QPbOPbOZ). 0.25

Allahs (hydrated borate'of Saclay--- 0.15 Ground oxidated titanium (rutile)\ 0.015y

preferably by means of the aerograph-to all metals previously prepared, that is to say covered with an anti-oxid layer of vitrifying material prepared according to the ordinary formulas but preferably less alkaline. In consequence of its plastic homogeneous nature and power of resisting chemical, physical and thermic influences, this mixture when applied as a' first layer over anti-oxids will act as an adhesive and equilibrating agent to the morefusible decorating enamels which may be' employed for completing the work.

The plastic nature of this mixture the plasticity of which can be increased or diminished by proportionately increasing or reducing the saline oxid of lead and the rutile, the hydrated borate of soda or addi tion of other alkaline elements, will enable the flat sheet metal plates or panels covered with this mixture, to be rolled after coming from the furnace, thus facilitating the straightening of the pieces put out of shape during the fusion of the said mixture and thus enabling them to be kept iu their proper form during the operations of fixing the more fusible-decoration enamels applied thereafter.

This vmixture maybe made opaque to the degree desired even by the ordinary means f and be colored any tint by the known methods without practically reducing its fusing point.

It has this particular property of being employable for they ground as Well as for decoration in layers which are very appreeiably thinner than is possiblewith ordinary enamels. .In the carrying out of the decoration it likewise enables different shades or tints to be placed in juxtaposition even by means of the aerograph, without any mixture being introduced into the adjointing tints, thus likewise avoiding excessive thickness.

The first plastic ground layer may if desired have a high fusing point, and the followinglayers be more fusible, which enables the sheets put out of shape to be straightened byrolling after the fusion of the first ground layer. i

l This layer may finally be covered with a superliciallayer of crystalline, transparent, colorless vitrifying material, having a low melting point (550 to 600) which would unify the surface and make the decoration stand out. I

This mixture may be employed in greater thicknesses in uniform tints, or as decoration and colored, arranged in juxtaposition in the style of mosaic Work.

By being rolled with heated cylinders it maybe furnished with various designs, sunk and in relief.

In order that satisfactory work may be effected, the impressing cylinders are made rather large and are preferably heated inside by means of vBunsen lamps or steam. Dur- Learner ing the treatment with the cylinders, the plates or panels are kept at a sufficiently high temperature by a Bunsen battery (gas blow pipes) which heats them below at the beginning of the 'treatment and when they leave the straightening rollers arranged in the ordinary form at the place of exit.

This plastic mixture may be reinforced with metal trellis or other mounting which is scoured and previously vfixed on the plates by electric soldering or otherwise is rolled and then covered with anti-oxid vitrifying material at the same time' as the sheet metal plates and afterward coated with the layers of plastic enamel. The mixture may be applied to the front and the back of the plates,

fusion being effected by suspension and panels with double fronts thus formed. 1n order that the material may adhere better to theI plates, these may be Worked with the planing machine or otherwise that is to say be shaved so that shavings are formed which remain adhering to the plate.

The layers of plastic enamel applied either to one face or to the front and the back may be as thick as is necessary for the purpose for which they are employed. y

rlhe cooling of the pieces covered with this mixture should preferably be effected slowly after the fusion. i

1n the accompanying drawing,

' Figure 1 is a sectional View vthrough a portion of aplate or sheet prepared in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, on a somewhat larger scale, showing a reinforcing trellis secured to the body of the plate.

1n the drawing the sheet proper is designated by the reference character A, the first, oxid resisting, layer on the front face of the sheet is represented at B, and in Fig. l four subsequently applied, superposed, layers of enamel are designated by the reference characters C, D, E and F.

. in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 a metaltrellis Gf is included,

such trellis being secured,-by welding orV otherwise, as at the points g, directly to the plate A. The oxid-resisting layer B coats the trellis as well as the surface of the plate and the layer C covers any unevenness in the surface of the layer produced by the trellis.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. The herein 'described method of pre- .paring metal for use as a covering for car or vehicle bodies comprisin cleaning a suitable blank, coating one sur ace of the blank with suitable oxid-resisting material, heating the coated blank to disclose Haws due to impurities 'or imperfections in the body thereof, treating the blank to prevent such flaws appearing in the finished article, shaping a suitable blank to adapt it for the in tended use and to receive an antioxid en` amel coating, coating the entire surface which is to be enameled with an oxid-resisting material, applying to said surface a plastic coating, fusing at such a high temperature that the coated sheet or plate may be subsequently heated and rolled to straighten it without damage to said coating, and subsequently applying a 'more readily fusible enamel coating.

3. The herein described method of preparing metal for use as a covering for car or vehicle bodies 'comprising treating and shaping a suitable blank to adaptit for the intended use and to receive an antioxid enamel coating, coating the entire surface which is to be enameled with anoXid-resisting material, applying to said Surface a plastic coating fusing only at a relatively high temperature, impressing suitable designs on or in said layer, and thereafter applying a second enamel coating.

l. The herein described method of preparing metal for use as a covering for car or vehicle bodies, comprising applying to a suitable blank an anti-oxid layer having a co-eiicient .of expansion substantially the same as that of the blank, and superimposing on said layer, first, a layer of enamel the fusing point of which is relatively high and thereafter an enamel layer the fusing point of which is relatively low. I

5. rThe herein described method of preparing metal for use as a covering for car or vehicle bodies comprising treating and shaping a suitable blank to adapt it for the intended use and to receive a coating of enamel, iixing to the surface of the blank to be enameled a reinforcing means, coating said surface and reinforcing means with an oXid resisting material, and thereafter applying a second enamel coating. l

6. The herein described method of preparing metal for. use as a covering for car or.y vehicle bodies comprising treating and shaping a suitable blank to adapt it for the intended use and to receive a coating of enamel, applying to said blank an enamel reinforcing ineans, and superposing onthe blank and reinforcing means two layers of en' amel fusing at dierent temperatures.

coating and having :t metal, enamel reinforcing means secured to said surface and covered b y the enamel coating.

8. A metal sheet or plate adapted to be employed in covering our or vehicle bodies having ay surface provided with car enamel coating comprising a layer of nnti-oxid material, applied directly to the sheet or plate, and a plurality of layers superimposed 10 thereon, the layer immediately adjacent the layer of nnti-oxid material being less fusible than the layer or layers superimposed thereon.

In testimony whereof I' affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALEXANDRE MEYER. y Witnesses CLAUDIUS LUssoN, H. C. COXE. 

